24 Quotes by Kenneth Waltz

States in the world are like individuals in the state of nature. They are neither perfectly good nor are they controlled by law.

With many sovereign states, with no system of law enforceable among them, with each state judging its grievances and ambitions according to the dictates of its own reason or desire – conflict, sometimes leading to war, is bound to occur.

If we are to have peace, we must learn loyalty to a larger group. And before we can learn loyalty, the thing to which we are to be loyal must be created.

Each man does seek his own interest, but, unfortunately, not according to the dictates of reason.

No system of balance functions automatically.

External pressure seems to produce internal unity.

War most often promotes the internal unity of each state involved. The state plagued by internal strife may then, instead of waiting for the accidental attack, seek the war that will bring internal peace.

It is not true that were the Soviet Union to disappear the remaining states could easily live in peace.

Then what explains war among states? Rousseau’s answer is really that war occurs because there is nothing to prevent it.